I do not think much people would be interested in my Ph.D assignment, still,as a memorial, I keep it here!*****************************************************Native American Literature (Fall 2008)Hsinchen Chiang (897210050)Response Paper 1October 7, 2008

Gerald Vizenor—the Advocate of SimulationAs far as our understanding on Vizenor’s writing and himself, one can tell that he has played various roles at the same time; in other words, he has different identities. For instance, he is a novelist, a poet and even a playwright; in the meantime, he is also a successful editor and an influential Indian writer publishing lots of theoretical articles about his own fellows and as well as their life in America. Still, what interests me most is how he identifies himself as a “postmodern figure” and how he applies the concepts of postmodern theorists to justify Indians in American, either in his fiction or nonfiction works. Being a powerful advocate of postmodern theories, Vizenor refers to the idea of simulation, which originated from French theorist Jean Baudrillard. Likewise, while Vizenor stresses on the plight and stereotyped image of Indians, the former in his book, Simulations, also applies his theory into the study of the minority and their simulation in America. The problematic of ethnicity has been discussed by both writers; therefore, Baudrillard’s postmodern theory has enforced Vizenor’s argument. Yet, unlike Baudrillard whose interest on the minority seems to be a practice of his own theory of simulation, who does not belong to his “object of study” (even though we are talking about human being here), Vizenor’s concern of the Indian springs from his own blood and can by no means be divided. Thus being an advocate of postmodern theory, Vizenor himself hardly forgets the core of his writing—the life of his Indian fellows and ceaselessly speaks for them.